Toyota retakes global sales crown from GM as companies tout the small, smart and luxurious at Detroit auto show

“It all starts and ends with great products,” she said. “You get the products right and the other will come with time.”

After scoring a hit with its CR-V compact SUV, Honda on Monday debuted the “Urban SUV Concept,” giving a glimpse at what the automaker’s new, even smaller SUV might look like when it hits streets.

Honda Motor plans to launch a small SUV based on that concept vehicle in Japan by the end of the year and in the U.S. in 2014. The concept SUV is 9 inches shorter than the CR-V, and hidden rear door handles give it a smooth, coupe-like presence. When it goes on sale in the U.S. it’s expected to be priced below the existing CR-V, which starts around $22,700 for a 2013 model. “We believe there is a good market potential for this vehicle,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and COO of Honda’s North American Regional Operations.

Chrysler’s top-selling Grand Cherokee is making the jump to diesel power, an option driven by demand from outdoor enthusiasts, the company says.

It marks the first major expansion into diesel power in the U.S. by a mainstream SUV maker, showing the potential for boosting power and fuel economy. Jeep unveiled the 2014 Grand Cherokee, as well as updates to its smaller Compass and Patriot models.

The Grand Cherokee’s 3.0-liter, EcoDiesel V-6 engine promises 240 horsepower and the ability to tow up to 7,400 pounds. It’s expected to get 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway in 4x2 models, and 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for 4x4 models. The diesel version will be more expensive than gasoline models.

The Toyota Corolla is getting a face-lift.

The cautious Japanese automaker unveiled a car that could become the blueprint for the 2014 model. It ditches the current Corolla’s soft, bland styling in favor of sharper lines, a dramatically sloped windshield and more aggressive headlights. The redesign could ultimately get incorporated into the next Corolla, depending on how people react to the changes. The Corolla was last revamped four years ago.

The show car also includes a blacked-out grille that’s reminiscent of Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand. Toyota says it wants the car to look like it’s in motion even when it’s parked. The show car, called the Furia, is slightly longer, narrower and lower than the current Corolla.

Cirque du Soleil helped Infiniti unveil a sports sedan Monday at the North American International Auto Show. The Q50 marks the first model to carry the new ‘Q’ badge that will be used in the product line of the Nissan-owned brand. The brand is trying to grow beyond its strong base in the United States, where it sold about 120,000 vehicles in 2012 — a 21.8 percent sales increase over the previous year.

The luxury sedan comes with a camera-based stability system, which will prevent lane drift and adjust for road surface changes or crosswinds. The Q50 will be available this summer in North America with a 3.7-liter V6 or 3.5-liter hybrid engine. Infiniti launched in 1989 primarily as a U.S. brand and now is available in about 50 countries.